Court convicts 18-year-old over death of German-Turkish student, sentences him to 3 years

The father of Tugce Albayrak waits prior to the announcement of the verdict in the trial of Sanel M. at the high court in Darmstadt, Germany, Tuesday June 16, 2015. An 18-year-old man has been convicted over the death of German-Turkish student Tugce Albayrak following an altercation at a fast-food restaurant and sentenced to three years in prison. The defendant, identified only as Sanel M. in line with German privacy laws, was convicted Tuesday of causing bodily harm resulting in death, news agency dpa reported. The state court in Darmstadt sentenced him under juvenile law. (Ralph Orlowski /Pool Photo via AP)
(The Associated Press)

Defendant Sanel M. , left covering his face, sits next to his lawyer Stephan Kuhn, right, in a courtroom in Darmstadt, Germany, Tuesday June 16, 2015. The 18-year-old man has been convicted over the death of German-Turkish student Tugce Albayrak following an altercation at a fast-food restaurant and sentenced to three years in prison. The defendant, identified only as Sanel M. in line with German privacy laws, was convicted Tuesday of causing bodily harm resulting in death, news agency dpa reported. The state court in Darmstadt sentenced him under juvenile law. (Ralph Orlowski/Pool Photo via AP)
(The Associated Press)

BERLIN – An 18-year-old man has been convicted over the death of a German-Turkish student following an altercation at a fast-food restaurant and sentenced to three years in prison.

The defendant, identified only as Sanel M. in line with German privacy laws, was convicted Tuesday of causing bodily harm resulting in death, news agency dpa reported. The state court in Darmstadt sentenced him under juvenile law.

The defendant testified when his trial opened in April that he slapped student Tugce Albayrak in the face before she fell to the ground. She died on her 23rd birthday, two weeks after the Nov. 15 altercation in Offenbach, prompting outrage in Germany and Turkey.

Witnesses said Albayrak had come to the aid of two girls who were being harassed by the defendant and another man.